Gyutan, meaning beef tongue, is a dish originating in Sendai, Japan. The dish originated in 1948, the post World War Ⅱ era when chef Sano Keishiro of the Aji Tasuke Restaurant in Sendai, tried to make a meal with beef tongue, a Western food material. Eventually, he ended up with the Yaki Gyutan, meaning grilled beef tongue. His restaurant is still open to this very day in Sendai!
Nowadays, the beef tongue is cooked in many different ways, both as Yaki Gyutan and as an ingredient in stews!
Gyutan is characterized by the thin slices of cow tongue and is recognizable by its unique texture. In Sendai-style Gyutan, the outside has a slightly crispy texture from the slow grilling, while the inside has a juicy and tender texture, offering rich flavors. It's often served with barley mixed rice, soup with the meat of cow tail, and grated yam as a meal set (Teishoku/定食).
Aji Tasuke - The Birthplace of Gyutan!
4-4-13 Ichibancho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture 980-0811, Japan
(Ajitasuke, n.d)
Gyutan Dori - A "Gyutan street" at Sendai Station on the 3rd floor, with many various restaurants serving Gyutan meals!
1-chōme-1-1 Chūō, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0021
(Tabitohoku, n.d)
If you buy an unsliced tongue, then remove the skin and slice it into thin pieces. One can initially boil the tongue to make the outer skin easier to peel off, but at the cost of flavor.
Salt your beef tongue slices lightly
Oil and warm up your pan, and once heated, add the slices
Fry lightly on each side for 1-2 minutes before turning the pan, and move the meat onto a plate
Season with lemon or other seasoning of your preference, and add side dishes of your choice!
Enjoy your tender Gyutan!
A video showcasing a Yakiniku restaurant serving Gyutan! English subtitles available!
A video by Chef Saito, regarding how to make beef tongue Gyutan! This video is in English!